# List Every Shortcode Used in Content (WP-CLI)

> Adds a "wp shortcodes-in-use" command that scans all content and lists each shortcode tag found, how many posts use it and whether anything is still registered to handle it.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Run everywhere
- Category: [Developer](https://wpide.com/library/category/developer/)
- Tags: wp-cli, shortcodes, audit
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/cli-shortcodes-in-use/

## Code

```php
if ( ! defined( 'WP_CLI' ) || ! WP_CLI ) {
    return;
}

WP_CLI::add_command( 'shortcodes-in-use', function ( $args, $assoc_args ) {
    global $wpdb;

    $usage = array();
    $last  = 0;
    do {
        $rows = $wpdb->get_results( $wpdb->prepare(
            "SELECT ID, post_content FROM {$wpdb->posts} WHERE ID > %d AND post_type NOT IN ('revision','attachment','nav_menu_item')
            AND post_status NOT IN ('trash','auto-draft') AND post_content LIKE '%%[%%' ORDER BY ID LIMIT 500",
            $last
        ) );
        foreach ( $rows as $row ) {
            $last = (int) $row->ID;
            // Strip block comments so JSON in them is not mistaken for shortcodes.
            $text = preg_replace( '/<!--.*?-->/s', '', $row->post_content );
            if ( preg_match_all( '/\[([a-zA-Z][\w-]*)(?=[\s\]\/])/', $text, $matches ) ) {
                foreach ( array_unique( $matches[1] ) as $tag ) {
                    $usage[ $tag ] = ( $usage[ $tag ] ?? 0 ) + 1;
                }
            }
        }
    } while ( count( $rows ) === 500 );

    if ( ! $usage ) {
        WP_CLI::success( 'No shortcodes found in content.' );
        return;
    }

    arsort( $usage );
    $items = array();
    foreach ( $usage as $tag => $posts ) {
        $items[] = array( 'shortcode' => $tag, 'posts' => $posts, 'status' => shortcode_exists( $tag ) ? 'registered' : 'missing' );
    }

    WP_CLI\Utils\format_items( $assoc_args['format'] ?? 'table', $items, array( 'shortcode', 'posts', 'status' ) );
}, array(
    'shortdesc' => 'Lists shortcode tags used in content.',
    'synopsis'  => array(
        array( 'type' => 'assoc', 'name' => 'format', 'optional' => true, 'default' => 'table', 'options' => array( 'table', 'csv', 'json' ) ),
    ),
) );
```

## Notes

Tags marked "missing" print as raw text on the site, usually because the plugin that provided them was removed.

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "List Every Shortcode Used in Content (WP-CLI)" in its snippet library and add it in one click; or create a new PHP snippet in WPIDE (or any code snippets plugin) and paste the code above. More snippets: https://wpide.com/library/